How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in New Jersey (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Jersey employs about 23,590 construction trades workers earning a median $64,060 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in New Jersey.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in New Jersey

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
169.8Contact school for pricing$57,07233%Yes*20 mi
260.4Contact school for pricing$48,80489%—52 mi
Sponsored Ad
359.6Contact school for pricing$41,84381%—21 mi
459.5Contact school for pricing$42,51068%—45 mi
Sponsored Ad
559.1Contact school for pricing$46,91079%—21 mi
656.3Contact school for pricing$51,43123%—38 mi
Sponsored Ad
741.2Contact school for pricing$32,67943%—10 mi
828.7Contact school for pricing$33,19659%—11 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

New Jersey employs approximately 23,590 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $64,060 1. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in New Jersey, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
  • Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
  • Median wage (New Jersey): $64,060 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in New Jersey

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in New Jersey? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in New Jersey.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in New Jersey? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in New Jersey is $64,060 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,980 and experienced professionals can earn $106,140 or more 1.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in New Jersey

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New Jersey training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in New Jersey that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in New Jersey before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker Apprenticeship Information in New Jersey

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. New Jersey’s apprenticeship program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Cape May County Technical Schools
  • Address: 188 Crest Haven Road, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
  • Phone: (609) 380-0200
  • Email: [email protected]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers wages in New Jersey vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City50,870$61,270$67,440$34,320$104,280
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington14,580$55,120$58,940$38,390$83,200
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton1,670$49,290$54,880$37,620$75,320
Atlantic City-Hammonton1,140$55,120$60,860$33,890$98,800
Trenton-Princeton960$71,920$73,100$38,200$106,370
Vineland440$83,680$74,200$36,400$97,100

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 23,590 construction trades workers 1. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in New Jersey? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in New Jersey. You can also contact the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in New Jersey compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in New Jersey is $64,060, which is $17,330 above the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data 1.

In New Jersey

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)